Jonah 4: 1-11, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 6:1

Key thought

Obedience is key to soul winning and so is the state of our heart!

• The responsibility God has given us is noble and serious one, we need to give our best
• You do not want to have a partner who does not share the passion for the work!
• We cannot afford to be reluctant coworkers with God for we have been called to serve him with all our heart.
• Jonah was a renegade prophet, a reluctant one who finally obeys but still has issues with God's ways
• He was so angry that he told God that it was better for him to die, He sat down at some place waiting for the destruction of the city

Three qualities of God in his dealings with the lost

1. God demonstrates his burden for the lost through his mercy
   • God was merciful to Jonah by being merciful after he has repented
   • God provided a great fish that swallowed Jonah
   • Not the kind of deliverance we would think of but still a way out
   • He gave Jonah another chance, and provided for him another opportunity to serve him
   • Mercy was extended to us when we are in a hopeless state
   • By nature, our God is merciful!
2. God demonstrates his heart for the lost through his kindness
   • Human beings are at the top of his creation, God is mindful of humanity, he loves and cares for us
   • Nineveh was also deserving of God's mercy, just like all fallen humanity.
   • In here we see the righteousness and mercy of God at work
3. God demonstrates long suffering as He deals with the lost
   • Jonah was shown mercy despite his willful disobedience and the people of Nineveh were sinners out of their ignorance.
   • God takes times to teach Jonah on His mercy just he takes times to warn Nineveh
   • Every life is significant before God and deserves a chance to hear the gospel

How do we become passionate soul winners?

1. Deal away with our stereotypes and prejudices
   • The Ninevites were the enemies of Israel and somehow this influenced Jonah’s actions.
   • Yet God extended grace to the city of Nineveh, grace has no boundaries!
   • God’s grace is not limited by our preferences, for even those we condemn God is still reaching out to them.
   • When we look at sinners, do we see citizens of hell or potential candidates of heaven?
2. Deal away with self-centeredness and selfishness
   • We must focus on faithfulness over our reputation.
   • We want forgiveness for ourselves yet are hard on others, the standard of mercy is God’s standard and not our ours
3. Watch out for silent rebellion
   • Jonah was in the danger of silent rebellion, in the first chapter he disobeyed outrightly.
   • Here he complies yet with reservations – he is angry that God has relented.

Conclusion

• God is not just interested with our obedience, but He is also the state of our heart when serving him.
• Jonah was more interested in God judging Nineveh than in the repenting